National Republican., 1887-01-22
INTERSTATE COMMERCE. BILL.
Comprehensive synopsis of the Pro-
visions of the Measure as Passed by
Congress.

Comprehensive Synopsis of the Pro-
visions of the Measure as Passed by
Congress.
Following is a comprehensive synopsis Of
the interstate commerce bill, as agreed upon
by both houses OF Congress:
In It's first section the bill applies tho pro.
visions Of the act TO any common carrier en-
gGGen IN hv 'nS ratasa pp paT}v bv W snd
partly by water when both arc used, under
common control, management, or arrange.
ment through more than one slatc-or territory
or from any place in the United states to an
adjacent foreign country. II defines the term
"Tailroad' TO include all bridges and ferries
used or operated by any railroad. All charges
poriation of passengers or properly snail be
reasonable md just; and every unjust and un.
reasonable charge for such service isprohibitcd
and declared TO be unlawful.
Section makes 1t unlawful for any common
carrier subject TO the provisions Of this act to
ohatge, demand, collect, or receive, directly
or indirectly, from any person or persons,
greater or. less compensation for any service
rendered in the transportation of passengers
or property than II charges, demands, collects,
or receives from any other per.onor persons for
neous service in the transportation ota like
kind Of traffic under substantially similar cir
cumsances and conditions.
Section makes II ualawiul for any common
carrier subject to the provisions of this act TO
make or give any undue or unreasonable pref
erence or advantage to any particular person.
company, firm, corporation, or locality, or any
particular description of traffic. Every common
carrier subject to the provisions OF this act
shall, according TO their respective powers,
afford all reasonable. proper and equal facili-
ties for the interchange OF traCic between their
respective lines, ana for the receiving, for
warding, and delivering of passengers and
property to and from their several lines aud
those connecting Herewith, and shall not dis.
Crlminate in their rates and Charles between
such connecting lines.
Sections and Cthe long and short haul
and pooling sections) are as follows:
Section 4. That 1t shall be unlawful for any
common carrier subject TO the provisions of
this act to charge or receive any greater COM
Iensaiion In the aggregate for the transporiG-
under substantially similar circumstances aud
conditions, for a shorter than for longer
distance over the same line, in the same direc-
tion, the shorter being included within the
longer distance; but this shall not be construed
as authorizing any common carrier within the
terms of this act to charge and receive as great
compensation for n shorter as for longer dis E
iance: Prorided, ho,erer, That upon applica.
tion TO the commission appointed under the
provisions of this act, such common carrier
may, In special cases. alter Investigation by
the commits ion, be authorized TO charge less
for longer than for shorter distances for the
transportation Of passengers or property; and
the commission may from time to time pre-.
scribe the extent to which such designated
common carrier may be relieved from the
operation of this section of this act.
Section 8. That II shall be unlawful for any
common carrier subject to the provisions of
! this act to enter into any contract agreement
| or combination with any other common car.
rier or carriers for the pooling of freights of
different and competing railroads, or to divide
| between them the aggregate or net proceeds ot
| the earnings of such railroads or any part
| thereof; and in any case OF an agreement for
| the pooling Of freights us aforesaid, each day
Of lis continuance shall be deemed separate
| oflense.
Section requires that after ninety days
| from the passage OF the act, every common
carrier subject to Its provisions shall have
printed and keep for public inspection schei'
| ules showing Its rates, fares, aud charges, and
in addition to requiring the railroads to give
them publicityat all OF the depots on their sew
eral lines, 1t gives authority TO the commission
where 1t is proper and necessary, to require
them to give publicity to their rates to othei
places beyond the lines of their several rail
roads It also provides that the rates fares
ten days of public notice, but that they ma!
he reduced without previous public notice; tht
notice, however, shall be simultaneous with
the reduction itself
Section makes It unlawful for any common
carrier to enter into any combination or agree
ment to prevent the carriage Of freights from
being continuous from the place of shipmeu
to the place of de stiDaiion.
Section declares that any common carrie
violating the provisions of the act shall be lii
lie 70 the person or persons injured thereb
I
consequence of any such violation, togothe
with reasonable counsel or attorneys fee.
The 9th section provides that persons claim
ing to have been damaged by the action {
common carriers may proceed for recover
of their damages either in the courts of tn
. United States or before the commission bereil
| provided for, but not before both tribunals
The tenth section makes II penal onense
, | violate any OF the provisions OF this act, an
puts the maximum of the fine which may /
? imposed at the sum of $1,000.
the commission features of the bill. They pr
i vide for commission to consist of five pc
/ sons, whose term of Office shall be for 81
| years, except for the first appointments, whic
are to he for two. three, four, five aud 81
years. The members of this commission al
obe appointed by the President by and wit
office shall be in Washington. but they ma
5 hold sessions at other places than Washin
ton, and single member of the commissiC
, | may take testmauy anywhere, as may
l directed by the commission. These comml
0 sioners have salaries of $500 each. The cor
. mission has the power to appoint n secretar
y with an annual salary of 81, 500, and has q
: thority to employ and fix the compensation
2 such other employees as II may find neccssa
/ TO the proper performance OF its duties, sui
: iect 70 the approval of the Secretary of Il
!, Section % provides that nothing contaiuc
y in this act shall abrldge the remedies now G!
Z listing at common law or by statute,
:, :, Section % approprates 100000 for the pi
poses of this act for the fiscal year ending Jul
e so. 1883.
u Section "a provides that the provisions
|, sections IL and is of this act, relating to Il
= appointment and organization OF the commi
! sion herein provided for, shall take effect ir
, mt diately. and the remaining iNovisions
!, this act shall take effect sixty days after